Touch panel including micro-patterns for improvement of visibility

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a touch panel capable of detecting a capacitive touch input of a finger of a human body or a touch input tool having conduction characteristics similar to those of the finger, and more particularly, to a structure of a touch panel having a high resolution so as to detect a touch input tool having a diameter smaller than a unit pi. In a touch panel having a high resolution according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to maintain high touch sensitivity while minimizing a change in structures of touch patterns depending on a size or a purpose of the touch panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2015-0095748, filed on Jul. 6, 2015, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present invention relates to touch panel capable of detecting acapacitive touch input of a finger of a human body or a touch input toolhaving conduction characteristics similar to those of the finger, andmore particularly, to improving visibility of a touch panel byrepetitively patterning touch patterns having a predetermined shape toimprove invisibility of touch patterns.

Discussion of the Background

In general, a touch panel, which is attached onto a display apparatussuch as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), anorganic light emitting diode (OLED), an active matrix organic lightemitting diode (AMOLED), or the like, is one of the input apparatusesgenerating a signal corresponding to a touch position when the touchpanel is touched by an object such as a finger, a pen, or the like. Thetouch panel has been used in various fields such as a small portableterminal, an industrial terminal, a digital information device, and thelike, and use fields of the touch panel have increased.

FIGS. 1A to 1C are views illustrating examples of touch patterns ofcapacitive touch panels according to the related art.

The capacitive touch panel indicates a device generating a predeterminedcapacitance between a finger of a human body or a touch input toolhaving conduction characteristics similar to those of the finger and atouch pattern (a conductive material) of the touch panel and decidingwhether or not a touch is made on the basis of a change in a voltageapplied to the generated capacitance.

As a resolution of the touch panel required in a smart phone, or thelike, is increased, the touch pattern constituting the touch panel hasbecome more elaborate and has been diversified in order to accuratelyand rapidly decide a touch position.

The patterns of the touch panels illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, whichillustrate examples of the capacitive touch patterns according to therelated art, had a structure in which two pieces 110 a and 110 b faceeach other to form one unit pattern 100 (see FIG. 1A) or one unitpattern is formed using entire one figure shape 120 or 140 (see FIGS. 1Band 1C).

The touch panels according to the related art illustrated in FIGS. 1A to1C are manufactured to decrease sizes themselves of unit patterns 100,120, and 140 on demand of the touch panels, thereby making it possibleto increase a resolution. However, as the sizes of the unit patterns aredecreased, the number of touch signal lines connected to the unitpatterns is exponentially increased.

As the number of touch signal lines is increased, an area occupied bythe touch signal lines in the touch panel is increased, which may not bepreferable in entire performance of the touch panel.

In addition, since a size of a touch panel for a smart phone or a sizeof a touch panel for a laptop computer are completely different fromeach other, a problem that shapes themselves of the unit patterns ratherthan the sizes of the unit patterns should be again designed dependingon sizes or purposes of the touch panels may occur.

It is not preferable to differently design the shapes themselves of theunit patterns for each touch panel since driving schemes of touchintegrated chips (ICs) deciding whether or not a touch is made should bedifferently programmed for each touch panel.

In addition, since the touch patterns disposed in a matrix form areextended from top side to bottom side of each column, the number ofsensor signal lines is further increased toward a bottom portion atwhich the touch IC is positioned, such that an entire disposition regionoccupied by the sensor signal lines becomes larger in a lateraldirection. Therefore, at the bottom portion closely positioned from thetouch IC, there was the problem that the sensor signal lines aredisplayed to the outside by a color distinguished from that of the touchpatterns.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a touch screen panelcapable of obtaining invisibility of touch pattern and having improvedvisibility by forming a plurality of micro-patterns in touch patternsand sensor signal lines so that a region in which the touch patterns aredisposed and a region in which the sensor signal lines are disposed arenot separately displayed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a touch panel havingimproved invisibility of touch pattern includes: a plurality of firstpatterns formed of a transparent conductive material so as to generate atouch capacitance Ct by approach or a touch of a touch units and formedby connecting one or more second patterns having a rhombus shape to eachother, surfaces of the second patterns including a plurality ofmicro-patterns that are repetitively patterned; and a plurality ofsensor signal lines repetitively patterned with the micro-patterns andtransferring touch signals generated from the first patterns to a touchintegrated chip (IC).

The micro-pattern may have a predetermined shape, and the transparentconductive material on an inner surface of the shape may be removed.

A maximum width of the second pattern may be smaller than a unit pi (Φ).

The unit pi may be set up to 1 mm or less.

The micro-patterns may have first inequality sign shapes or secondinequality sign shapes of which two segments having a predeterminedwidth contact each other at central points at a predetermined angle.

The first inequality sign shape and the second inequality sign shape maybe inequality sign shapes having a phase difference of 180 degreestherebetween, such that they are widened in opposite directions.

The micro-patterns on the surfaces of the second patterns may be formedby repetitively patterning the first inequality sign shapes atpredetermined spacings in a first line and repetitively patterning thesecond inequality sign shapes at predetermined spacings in a secondline, and the first line in which the first inequality sign shapes arepatterned and the second line in which the second inequality sign shapesare patterned may be repetitively disposed on the surfaces of the secondpatterns.

The first line may be a virtual line connecting the central points ofthe first inequality sign shapes to each other, and the second line maybe a virtual line connecting the central points of the second inequalitysign shapes to each other.

The micro-patterns may be repetitively patterned so that one of thesegments constituting the first inequality sign shapes and one of thesegments constituting the second inequality sign shapes are alternatelydisposed in a space of the first line and the second line.

The second patterns may be formed in the rhombus shape by including aplurality of increase regions of which widths become stepwise wide froma first vertex up to a point at which a width between second and thirdvertices facing each other are the maximum and a plurality of decreaseregions of which widths become stepwise narrow from the point at whichthe width between the second and third vertices facing each other arethe maximum up to a fourth vertex facing the first vertex.

A first region of the increase regions including the first vertex mayinclude a plurality of first lines and second lines, and a plurality offirst inequality sign shapes and second inequality sign shapes may bepatterned in the first lines and the second lines, respectively.

The numbers of first lines and second lines included in a second regionof the increase regions having widths wider than that of the firstregion may be more than the numbers of first lines and second linesincluded in the first region, and the numbers of first inequality signshapes and second inequality sign shapes patterned in the first linesand the second lines of the second region may be more than the numbersof first inequality sign shapes and second inequality sign shapespatterned in the first lines and the second lines of the first region.

The touch panel having improved visibility may further include aplurality of connection micro-patterns connecting edges of the increaseregions and edges of the decrease regions having different widths toeach other, wherein the micro-patterns positioned on the respectivesides of the rhombus shape and the connection micro-patterns areconnected to each other to form edges of the second patterns.

Shapes in which a pair of first patterns are engaged with each other atupper and lower portions in a state in which phases of the pair of firstpatterns are inversed by 180 degrees may be repetitively disposed toform one column of the touch panel.

Sizes of the second patterns may become larger as the second patternsbecome farther from the touch IC.

The touch panel having improved visibility may further include aplurality of compensation patterns compensating for the transparentconductive material removed from vertex portions of the first patternsat which the pair of first patterns are engaged with each other.

Widths of the sensor signal lines may become wider when the firstpatterns to which the sensor signal lines are connected become fartherfrom the touch IC.

Neighboring sensor signal lines may be separated from each other byseparation lines from which the transparent conductive material isremoved by connecting the micro-patterns formed in the same column toeach other.

The meaning that the widths of the sensor signal lines become wider maybe that the number of micro-patterns included in the neighboringseparation lines is increased.

The sensor signal lines may be connected to the first patterns at pointsat which distances between the sensor signal lines and the touch IC arethe shortest distances.

Widths of the sensor signal lines and sizes of the first patterns may beset so that all of resistance values of the respective sensor signallines are the same as each other.

The transparent conductive material may be any one of indium tin oxide(ITO), carbon nano tube (CNT), antimony doped tin oxide (ATO), andindium zinc oxide (IZO).

The touch capacitance (Ct) may be several femto Farads (fF) to severalten micro Farads (ρF).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1C are views illustrating examples of touch patterns ofcapacitive touch panels according to the related art.

FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating structures of first patterns (unitpatterns) of a touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2B is a plan view illustrating second patterns constituting thefirst pattern of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a view schematically illustrating a structure of an M×N matrixtouch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged views of touch patterns according to thepresent invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a view illustrating shapes of therespective sides of the second patterns, and FIG. 4B is a viewillustrating shapes of micro-patterns for improving invisibility of thetouch patterns.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are views schematically illustrating a change in shapesof touch patterns depending on an increase in a resolution according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a structure of a touch panelaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of connection portions between touch patternsand sensor signal lines according to the present invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views schematically illustrating modified examplesof layouts of sensor signal lines according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating a touch panel including theequivalent resistance region according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating micro-pattern structures forvisibility in the touch panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view for describing structures of first patterns includingrepetitive patterning of micro-patterns for improving visibility of thetouch panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view for describing structures of sensor signal linesincluding repetitive patterning of micro-patterns for improvingvisibility of the touch panel according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In order to sufficiently understand the present invention, operationaladvantages of the present invention, and objects accomplished byexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the accompanyingdrawings illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention andcontents described in the accompanying drawings should be referred to.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Likereference numerals proposed in each drawing denote like components.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A touch panel in the present invention, which indicates a capacitivetouch panel, means a device generating a predetermined capacitancebetween a finger of a human body or a touch input tool having conductioncharacteristics similar to those of the finger and a touch pattern ofthe touch panel and deciding whether or not a touch is made on the basisof a change in a voltage applied to the generated capacitance.

A high resolution in the present invention, which means a small touchdiameter (for example, a unit pi (1 mm)) of a touch input means, means aresolution required in order to accurately read a written character inthe case of writing and inputting the character using an input tool suchas a touch pen.

A touch pattern in the present invention may be formed of a conductivematerial to thereby be called a touch electrode.

Improvement of visibility of the touch panel in the present inventionshould be widely interpreted as concepts including improvement ofinvisibility of the touch pattern and improvement of a moiré phenomenon.That is, the improvement of the visibility of the touch panel is toprevent a screen from being blurred or prevent a case in which a touchpattern is recognized when a user operates a device.

The invisibility of the touch pattern in the present invention indicatesa property disabling the user to recognize a shape of a touch pattern ora touch electrode formed on the touch panel.

FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating structures of first patterns (unitpatterns 200-1 or 200-2) of a touch panel according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Each column of the touch panel is formed by repetitively disposingshapes in which a first pattern 200-1 and a first pattern 200-2 areengaged with each other at upper and lower portions in a state in whichphases of the first pattern 200-1 and the first pattern 200-2 areinversed by 180 degrees, as illustrated in FIG. 2A.

Although an entire shape of the touch panel will be described in moredetail with reference to FIG. 6, a unit pattern of the touch panel isthe first pattern 200-1 or 200-2 in FIG. 2A. The unit pattern in thepresent invention indicates a touch pattern connected to one sensorsignal line.

As described above, shapes in which two first patterns are engaged witheach other in a state in which the left and the right of the two firstpatterns are reversed are repetitively disposed in an arrow direction210, that is, a longitudinal direction to form one column. In addition,a plurality of columns formed in the above-mentioned scheme arerepetitively disposed, such that the touch panel according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention is formed.

In detail, shapes in which vertices of a pair of unit patterns (firstpatterns 200-1 and 200-2) are engaged with each other are repetitivelydisposed to form one column.

The respective first patterns, which are formed of a conductivematerial, may generate a touch capacitance Ct by approach or a touch ofa touch units. The touch capacitance generated by the approach or thetouch of the touch units is in a range of several femto Farads (fF) toseveral ten micro Farads (ρF).

In the present invention, sensor signal lines 320 (see FIG. 3) as wellas the first pattern 200-1 or 200-2 are also formed of a transparentconductive material. An example of the transparent conductive materialis any one of indium tin oxide (ITO), carbon nano tube (CNT), antimonydoped tin oxide (ATO), and indium zinc oxide (IZO).

Since the first pattern 200-1 and the first pattern 200-2 are differentunit patterns, they are connected to different sensor signal lines totransfer a received touch signal to a touch integrated circuit (IC).

The touch IC indicates a device detecting whether or not a touch is madeand a touch point on the basis of the touch signal received through thesensor signal lines. The touch IC is generally disposed in an outer edgeregion of the touch panel, and a detailed position of the touch IC maybe changed depending on a purpose or a size of the touch panel.

FIG. 2B is a plan view illustrating second patterns constituting thefirst pattern of FIG. 2A.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the respective first patterns 200-1 or 200-2are formed by connecting one or more second patterns to each other.

In detail, the first pattern 200-1 is formed by connecting secondpatterns 240-1, 240-2, and 240-3 to each other, and the first pattern200-2 is formed by connecting second patterns 240-4, 240-5, and 240-6 toeach other.

A process of forming the unit patterns illustrated in FIG. 2B is only anexample, and the number of second patterns forming the first pattern maybe changed depending on a purpose or a size of the touch panel.

In addition, although the case in which the respective first patternsare formed by connecting 2.5 second patterns to each other has beenillustrated in FIG. 2B, the number of second patterns constituting thefirst pattern is varied (for example, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, or the like)depending on a resolution.

The second patterns constituting the first pattern, which is the unitpattern as described above, have a rhombus shape.

0.5 second pattern in the 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5 second patterns describedabove indicates a half of the pattern 240-2 such as the pattern 240-1and the pattern 240-6. That is, the 0.5 pattern indicates a half regiongenerated by dividing a rhombus shape by ½ in the arrow direction 210.

The first pattern may be formed by connecting integer (one or more)second patterns to each other, but is not limited thereto. That is, thefirst pattern may also be formed by connecting one or more secondpatterns and a portion (for example, 0.5) of the second pattern to eachother, as described above.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the second pattern in thepresent invention is not limited to having the rhombus shape, but mayalso have another shape. However, in the case in which the secondpattern has the rhombus shape or a diamond shape as in the presentinvention, a touch position may be more easily detected due to an areadifference between the pattern 200-1 and the pattern 200-2 asillustrated by a circle 250.

One or more second patterns are connected to each other to form thefirst pattern, which is the unit pattern, regardless of a detailed shapeof the second patterns, and shapes in which a pair of first patterns areengaged with each other at upper and lower portions in a state in whichphases of the pair of first patterns are inversed by 180 degrees arerepetitively disposed to form one column of the touch panel.

A maximum width of the second pattern 240-2 is smaller than a unit pi(Φ) (for example, 1 mm). In other words, in an example of FIG. 2A, adiameter of a circle 250 or 260 is smaller than the unit pi.

Detection of a touch point in the capacitive touch panel in the presentinvention is performed using a voltage difference, for example at thecircle (250 or 260), between a voltage at a time in which a touch isoccurred and a voltage at a time in which the touch is not occurred.

FIG. 3 is a view schematically illustrating a structure of an M×N matrixtouch panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

A touch IC 340 deciding whether or not a touch is made is disposed at anopposite downstream side to an arrow direction 210 illustrated in FIG.3.

In FIG. 3, a first pattern, which is a unit pattern of touch patterns,has the same structure as that of the first pattern 200-1 or 200-2 ofFIGS. 2A and 2B.

Although the touch patterns are illustrated in FIG. 3 as if patterns300-1 and 300-2 neighboring to each other are disposed to have apredetermined spacing therebetween, they are illustrated in order tofacilitate the understanding of an entire change in sizes of the touchpatterns and a change in sensor signal lines in the entire touch panel,and a spacing is not necessarily required between neighboring patternsforming one column (see FIG. 6).

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a size of a first pattern 300-1 disposed atthe longest distance from the touch IC 340 is larger than that of afirst pattern 300-n disposed at the nearest distance from the touch IC340.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, entire sizes of thefirst patterns become larger along the arrow direction 210. That is, indetail, a size of the touch pattern 300-n disposed at the nearestdistance from the touch IC 340 is smaller than that of the touch pattern300-1.

In detail, the meaning that the entire sizes of the first patternsbecome larger is that widths of the second patterns constituting thefirst patterns become larger and the number of second patternsconstituting the first patterns is increased.

The increase in the number of second patterns may be used in order todecrease a size of the unit pi (for example, 1 mm) for the purpose of ahigh resolution, but in the case in which the sizes of the firstpatterns are changed depending on a distance from the touch IC 340,widths of the second patterns are varied.

As the sizes of the first patterns become larger along the arrowdirection 210 or become larger depending on the distance from the touchIC 340, widths of signal lines 320 also become larger. Although notvisually clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, a width of a signal line 320-1is larger than that of a signal line 320-n.

A change in the sizes of the touch patterns and a change in the widthsof the sensor signal lines illustrated in connection with FIG. 3 are tocompensate for resistance loss experienced as touch signals aretransferred along the sensor signal lines.

The reason why the change in the sizes of the touch patterns and thechange in the widths of the sensor signal lines described in connectionwith FIG. 3 will be described using an extreme example.

For example, assume that a voltage change generated in the first pattern300-n was a touch threshold voltage that may be recognized as the touch.In the case in which the same touch threshold voltage is generated inthe first pattern 300-1, a signal amplitude of the voltage generated inthe first pattern 300-1 is decreased due to a resistance of the sensorsignal line while the voltage being transferred along the sensor signalline 320-1, such that the touch IC does not ultimately recognize thetouch in the first pattern 300-1.

As a result, even though the touch having the same magnitude isgenerated in the first pattern 300-1 and the first pattern 300-n, thetouch IC senses that the touch was generated in the first pattern 300-n,but an error that the touch IC senses that the touch was not generatedin the first pattern 300-1 may occur.

Therefore, in the present invention, in order to solve a problem that itis recognized that the touch was generated in any touch pattern and wasnot generated in another touch pattern with respect to the same touch,the widths of the sensor signal lines connected to the patterns as wellas the sizes of the unit patterns are changed (the widths of the sensorsignal lines as well as the widths of the second patterns are increased)in consideration of the distance from the touch IC.

The widths of the sensor signal lines and the sizes of the firstpatterns are set as described above in order to allow resistance valuesof the respective sensor signal lines to be the same as each other.

In addition, as the widths of the sensor signal lines are increased,spacings between the sensor signal lines are also increased.

The sensor signal lines in the present invention are patterned andformed as a plurality of micro-patterns 440-1 to 440-4, similar to thetouch patterns.

However, in order to distinguish neighboring sensor signal lines fromeach other, the micro-patterns from which a transparent conductivematerial is removed are continuously connected to each other alongseparation lines 430. Three separation lines (430) for distinguishingthe sensor signal lines from each other are illustrated in FIG. 4A.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a spacingbetween the separation lines (430) illustrated in FIG. 4A becomes largeras a distance from the touch IC becomes farther.

FIGS. 4A and 4B, which are enlarged views of first patterns, are viewsillustrating shapes of the respective sides of the first patterns andshapes of micro-patterns for improving invisibility of the touchpatterns.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged views illustrating a boundary between thefirst pattern 200-1 and the first pattern 200-2 of FIG. 2A next to eachother.

The touch patterns and the sensor signal lines according to the presentinvention are formed by repetitively patterning a plurality ofmicro-patterns 440 having the same shape in order to improveinvisibility (which will be described below in detail).

In the present invention, transparent conductive materials are notdeposited on and applied to an internal area of 1 or 0.5 rhombus of thesecond pattern, but are patterned as micro-patterns 440-1, 440-2, 440-3,or 440-4 in the internal area, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

That is, the transparent conductive materials are repetitively removedto be the micro-patterns 440-1, 440-2, 440-3, or 440-4 having aninequality sign shape (< or >), such that the second patterns or thefirst patterns are formed.

The visibility considered in the present invention in connection withFIG. 4 indicates performance disabling a user to recognize that thetouch patterns such as the first patterns 200-1 or 200-2 are formed onthe touch panel.

The respective sides of the rhombus of the second pattern are formed ina zigzag shape by repetitive patterning of the micro-patterns of FIG.4B. The respective sides 410 of the rhombus of the second pattern areformed by connecting the micro-patterns formed by removing thetransparent conductive materials to each other along sides of therhombus. The respective sides of the rhombus of the second pattern forma closed-loop region (a rhombus shape) by connecting one or morerepetitive patterned micro-patterns (formed by removing the conductivematerials) to each other.

Although a feature associated with the improvement of the invisibilityof the touch patterns in the present invention will be described belowin more detail, it becomes clear in FIGS. 4A and 4B that the respectivesides of the rhombus of the second pattern are not smooth, but have thezigzag shape by the repetitive patterning of the micro-patterns 440-1,440-2, 440-3, or 440-4.

In addition, the micro-patterns in the present invention may be formedof a combination of a right inequality sign 440-1 or 440-4 and a leftinequality sign 440-2 or 440-3, and included angles (included angles ofsides of the inequality signs) of the respective inequality signs may bedetermined in connection with other characteristics of the touch panelsuch as light transmissivity, and the like.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are views schematically illustrating shapes of touchpatterns changed depending on an increase in a resolution according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

An increase in a resolution of the touch panel according to the presentinvention may be easily accomplished by increasing the number of secondpatterns included in the first pattern while decreasing sizes of thesecond pattern.

A pattern 200 illustrated in FIG. 5A has a shape in which a pair offirst patterns 200-1 and 200-2 are engaged with each other at upper andlower portions in a state in which phases of the pair of first patterns200-1 and 200-2 are inversed by 180 degrees.

The first pattern included in the pattern 200 may be configured toinclude 2.5 second patterns, as illustrated in FIG. 2B.

A pattern 510 illustrated in FIG. 5B has a shape in which 3.5 secondpatterns are connected to each other to form a first pattern and a pairof first patterns are engaged with each other at upper and lowerportions in a state in which phases of the pair of first patterns areinversed by 180 degrees.

A pattern 520 illustrated in FIG. 5C has a shape in which 4.5 secondpatterns are connected to each other to form a first pattern and a pairof first patterns are engaged with each other at upper and lowerportions in a state in which phases of the pair of first patterns areinversed by 180 degrees.

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate touch patterns on the basis of one column of atouch panel. A width of one column is not changed, and the number ofsecond patterns is larger in FIG. 5B than in FIG. 5A and widths of thesecond patterns are smaller in FIG. 5B than in FIG. 5A, such that atouch panel having a higher resolution in FIG. 5B than in FIG. 5A may beformed, and the number of second patterns is larger in FIG. 5C than inFIG. 5B and widths of the second patterns are smaller in FIG. 5C than inFIG. 5B, such that a touch panel having a higher resolution in FIG. 5Cthan in FIGS. 5A and 5B may be formed.

As shapes of the touch patterns are changed from FIG. 5A to FIG. 5Cthrough 5B, a resolution of the touch panel is increased, but shapes ofthe second patterns in the present invention are maintained as apredetermined rhombus shape without being changed. In addition, eventhough the resolution of the touch panel is increased, the number ofsensor signal lines is not increased. The reason is that the number offirst patterns, which are the unit patterns to which the sensor signallines are connected, is constant. Since examples illustrated in FIGS. 5Ato 5C include only two first patterns, only two sensor signal lines arerequired.

In the touch panel having the high resolution according to the presentinvention, as the resolution is increased, the number of sensor signallines is not changed, and positions of the sensor signal lines are alsonot changed, but are constant. The reason is that the first patterns,which are the unit patterns, are maintained as they are, and the widthsof the second patterns constituting the first patterns are decreased,such that the number of second patterns is increased.

In the touch panel according to the present invention, even though theresolution of the touch panel is increased, the shapes of the unitpatterns are not changed, and the number of sensor signal lines is notincreased, such that the touch panel may be easily modified.

In addition, the case in which a size of a touch panel is increased willbe described. The touch pattern of FIG. 5C is used in a touch panelhaving a large size and the touch pattern of FIG. 5B or 5A is used in atouch panel having a small size, thereby making it possible to formtouch panels that may detect a unit pi of touch and maintain a referenceresolution.

That is, the shapes of the touch patterns according to the related arthad a problem that the sizes of the unit patterns should be againdesigned and changed, but the touch patterns according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention have an advantage that a touch panelhaving a large size while maintaining a high resolution is easilymanufactured by increasing the number of second patterns.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a structure of a touch panelaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view schematically illustrating two columns in a matrix formhaving a plurality of columns M and a plurality of rows N.

A pair of first patterns illustrated in a first column 610 areillustrated as patterns 650-1, and a pair of first patterns illustratedin a second column 620 are illustrated as patterns 650-2.

The pattern 650-1 and the pattern 650-2 illustrated in FIG. 6 are thesame as the patterns illustrated in FIG. 2A. That is, the pair of firstpatterns having the same shape are engaged with each other at upper andlower portions in a state in which phases thereof are inversed by 180degrees.

A region 630 in which a sensor signal line connected to the patterns ofthe first column is disposed and a region 640 in which a sensor signalline connected to the patterns of the second column is disposed areillustrated. In a configuration of the touch pattern in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 6, the patterns of the first column 610 and thepatterns of the second column 620 are disposed to be misaligned witheach other so as to have a predetermined offset therebetween.

The meaning that the patterns of the first column 610 and the secondcolumn 620 illustrated in FIG. 6 are disposed to be misaligned with eachother so as to have the predetermined offset therebetween will bedescribed in detail in comparison with the touch patterns of FIG. 3.

The patterns 300-1, 300-2, or 300-n in FIG. 3 correspond to the patterns650-1 or 650-2 in FIG. 6. As described above, the respective patterns inFIG. 3 do not require the spacing therebetween, but may be disposed tobe continuously connected to each other as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The touch patterns in FIG. 3 are disposed in a matrix form, and all thetouch patterns in the first column and the other columns are disposed inparallel with each other. That is, the patterns in the first column, thesecond column, or the other columns are disposed in a line in one row(hereinafter, this structure will be referred to as a “stripestructure”).

On the other hand, in the case of the touch patterns illustrated in FIG.6, the touch patterns 650-1 of the first column and the touch patterns650-2 of the second column do not form one row, but are disposed to bemisaligned with each other so as to have a predetermined offsettherebetween. In detail, the touch patterns 650-2 of the second columnare disposed to be more adjacent to the touch IC at a level below thetouch patterns 650-1 of the first column (hereinafter, this structurewill be referred to as a “delta structure”).

The touch panel formed of the touch patterns having the delta structureaccording to an example of FIG. 6 may more easily detect a multi-touchas compared with the touch panel having the stripe structure.

Although the case in which the patterns have an offset depending oncolumns has been illustrated in an example of FIG. 6, an exemplaryembodiment in which the patterns have an offset depending on rowsaccording to a layout type between the patterns and the touch IC is alsopossible.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of connection portions between touch patternsand sensor signal lines according to the present invention.

Basically, the shorter the distances between the sensor signal lines andthe touch IC, the better the sensor signal lines. The reason is that themeaning that the sensor signal lines are long is that values of sensorsignals at the time of transferring the sensor signals are furtherweakened (that is, amplitude values become small).

Therefore, the sensor signal lines in the present invention areconnected to the first patterns at points at which distances between thesensor signal lines and a touch IC 740 are the shortest distances.

The touch patterns in the present invention have a shape in which a pairof first patterns are engaged with each other in a state in which phasesthereof are inversed by 180 degrees.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a point at which a sensor signal line isconnected to a first pattern 710-1 is a vertex 720 of a rhombus.

When a region in which the sensor signal line is disposed is the rightof each column, a point at which a distance between the sensor signalline and the touch IC 740 at the time of connecting the sensor signalline to the first pattern 710-1 is shortest becomes the vertex 720 ofthe rhombus.

Meanwhile, a sensor signal line connected to the other first pattern710-2 is connected to a vertex 730.

As described above, points at which the respective patterns and therespective sensor signal lines are connected to each other in spaces inwhich the sensor signal lines are disposed are changed depending onshapes of the first patterns. That is, the first pattern 710-1 isconnected to the vertex 720, and the first pattern 710-2 is connected tothe vertex 730.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views schematically illustrating modified examplesof layouts of sensor signal lines according to the present invention.

The sensor signal lines are not necessarily disposed at only one side ina relationship between the sensor signal lines and the touch patterns ofthe respective columns. That is, in FIG. 6, an example of the sensorsignal line formed in a region (630 or 640) that is disposed in parallelwith the touch pattern 610 or 620 of each column at the right of thetouch pattern 610 or 620 of each column is illustrated.

However, FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an example in which sensor signallines are simultaneously present at the left and the right of columns.

FIG. 8A conceptually illustrates one column of the touch panel. In FIG.8A, sensor signal lines connected to touch patterns positioned moreclosely to a touch IC 800 are disposed at the left of the touchpatterns. That is, sensor signal lines 820-(N−2), 820-(N−1), and 820-Nare connected to the left of the respective touch patterns 810-(N−2),810-(N−1), and 810-N. Sensor signal lines 820-1, 820-2, and 820-3connected to the respective touch patterns 810-1, 810-2, and 810-3disposed at distances distant from the touch IC 800 are disposed at theright of the respective touch patterns.

FIG. 8B illustrates another example of a layout of sensor signal linesof a touch panel. In FIG. 8B, some of the sensor signal lines arealternately disposed one by one at a first side and a second side oftouch patterns. Here, the second side is an opposite side to the firstside on the basis of a first pattern.

The sensor signal line 820-1 of the touch pattern 810-1 is disposed atthe right of the touch pattern, the sensor signal line 820-2 of thetouch pattern 810-2 is disposed at the left of the touch pattern, andthe sensor signal line 820-3 of the touch pattern 810-3 is disposed atthe right of the touch pattern. Similarly, the sensor signal line820-(n−3) of the touch pattern 810-(n−3) is disposed at the right of thetouch pattern, the sensor signal line 820-(n−2) of the touch pattern810-(n−2) is disposed at the left of the touch pattern, the sensorsignal line 820-(n−1) of the touch pattern 810-(n−1) is disposed at theright of the touch pattern, and the sensor signal line 820-n of thetouch pattern 810-n is disposed at the left of the touch pattern.

A layout of the sensor signal lines is closely associated with aposition in the touch panel in which the touch IC is disposed, and isclosely associated with whether the number of touch ICs is plural orsingle.

Unit shapes of the respective patterns in FIGS. 8A and 8B are the sameas those of the patterns 200-1 or 200-2 in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In addition,as described in an example of FIG. 3, a feature that as the touchpatterns become farther from the touch IC 800, the sizes of the touchpatterns become larger, such that the widths of the sensor signal linesare increased may be similarly applied to an example of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating a touch panel including theequivalent resistance region according to the present invention.

The equivalent resistance region according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may be included in a region 930, a region 940, andthe like, of FIG. 9 due to mainly two reasons.

As a first reason, the equivalent resistance region may be introduced inorder to prevent static electricity or an over-voltage from the touchIC. That is, the equivalent resistance region is added so as tointroduce any additional resistance path in order to prevent touchpatterns positioned at distances close to a touch IC from being damageddue to sudden overload, or the like.

As a second reason, since lengths of fan-out parts connecting sensorsignal lines connected to the respective first patterns positioned inthe respective columns and the touch IC to each other are different fromeach other, resistance values of the sensor signal lines positioned inthe respective columns are changed. The equivalent resistance region isintroduced in order to compensate for changes in the resistance valuesof the respective sensor signal lines due to a length difference betweenthe fan-out parts as described above. For example, when it is assumedthat the touch IC is positioned in a central column, a length of afan-out part of the central column close to the touch IC is short, and achange in a resistance value of a sensor signal line positioned in acentral portion is also small. However, in the case of columnspositioned at both ends that are distant from the touch IC, a length ofa fan-out part is long, and changes in resistance values of sensorsignal lines connected to the columns positioned at both ends are large.

That is, the equivalent resistance region is introduced in order tocompensate for the changes in the resistance values of the sensor signallines positioned in the respective columns due to the lengths of thefan-out parts.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating micro-pattern structures forimproving visibility of the touch panel according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating micro-pattern structures repetitivelypatterned in order to improve invisibility with respect to the firstpatterns in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 10, which is an enlarged view illustrating a shape in which a pairof first patterns are engaged with each other, illustrates a state inwhich the pair of first patterns rotate by 90 degrees in acounterclockwise direction.

As described above, the first pattern formed of the transparentconductive material so as to generate the touch capacitance Ct by theapproach or the touch of the touch units is formed by connecting one ormore second patterns having the rhombus shape to each other.

Here, a surface of the second pattern includes a plurality ofmicro-patterns repetitively patterned in order to improve invisibility.

Inner surfaces of the micro-patterns having an inequality sign shape arein a state in which the transparent conductive materials are removedtherefrom.

That is, 0.5 second pattern 240-6, a second pattern 240-5, and a secondpattern 240-4 are connected to each other to form the first pattern200-2 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, and 0.5 second pattern 240-1, a second pattern240-2, and a second pattern 240-3 are connected to each other to formthe first pattern 200-1 of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In FIG. 10, repetitive patterning of the micro-patterns for improvingthe invisibility is clearly illustrated by enlarging a region in whichthe first pattern 200-1 and the first pattern 200-2 of FIGS. 2A and 2Bare engaged with each other.

In FIG. 10, a transparent conductive material of the first pattern 200-1is denoted by a red color, and a transparent conductive material of thefirst pattern 200-2 is denoted by a yellow color. In addition, themicro-patterns are denoted by a white color, such that a state in whichconductive materials are removed is illustrated.

The red color, the yellow color, and the white color in FIG. 10 are tofacilitate the understanding of configurations of the first pattern, thesecond pattern, and the micro-pattern, and it is to be noted that theyare actually transparent to light.

As described above, in the touch panel according to the presentinvention, the sensor signal lines as well as the first patterns and thesecond patterns forming the touch electrode are repetitively patternedwith the same micro-patterns, thereby maximizing the invisibility of thetouch patterns.

A region 1020 in FIG. 10 indicates a sensor signal line region patternedas micro-patterns. The sensor signal lines are repetitively patternedwith the micro-patterns, such that the visibility is improved, andtransfer touch signals generated from the first patterns connected tothe touch IC.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11, which is an enlarged view of a region of a circle 1100 of FIG.10, is a view for describing patterning of micro-patterns for improvinginvisibility in detail.

The second patterns and the sensor signal lines are repetitivelypatterned with micro-patterns to form repetitively patterned twoinequality sign shapes, thereby obtaining the invisibility.

The micro-patterns have been called the inequality sign shapes forconvenience, but will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 11.

The micro patterns include first inequality sign shapes 1120 or secondinequality sign shapes 1140 of which two segments having a predeterminedwidth contact each other at central points 1110 or 1130 at apredetermined angle α (see FIG. 11).

An angle at which two segments of the micro-pattern meet each other maybe determined in consideration of a purpose, a size, and the like, ofthe touch panel. Although the case in which an angle of the firstinequality sign shape 1120 and an angle of the second inequality signshape 1140 are the same as each other is illustrated in FIG. 11, theseangles may be different from each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the first inequality sign shape 1120 and thesecond inequality sign shape 1140 are inequality sign shapes having aphase difference of 180 degrees therebetween, such that they are widenedin opposite directions.

The invisibility of the touch patterns and the sensor signal lines inthe present invention uses an optical illusion phenomenon of human eyes,and a structure of the patterning of the micro-patterns is veryimportant.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the micro-patterns according to the presentinvention are formed by repetitively patterning the first inequalitysign shapes 1120 at predetermined spacings along a first line 1150 andrepetitively patterning the second inequality sign shapes 1140 atpredetermined spacings along a second line 1160.

The first line in which the first inequality sign shapes are patternedand the second line in which the second inequality sign shapes arepatterned are repetitively disposed on surfaces of the second patterns,such that the invisibility is obtained.

Referring to FIG. 11, the first line 1150 is a virtual line connectingthe central points 1110 of the first inequality sign shapes 1120 to eachother, and the second line 1160 is a virtual line connecting the centralpoints 1130 of the second inequality sign shapes 1140 to each other.

As seen with reference to FIG. 10, the first line 1150 and the secondline 1160 are virtual lines that are not actually present.

In the present invention, in order to improve the visibility, one of thesegments constituting the first inequality sign shapes and one of thesegments constituting the second inequality sign shapes are alternatelydisposed in a space G of the first line 1150 and the second line 1160.

That is, a left segment A-1 of the second inequality sign shape, a rightsegment B-1 of the first inequality sign shape, a left segment A-2 ofthe second inequality sign shape, and a right segment B-2 of the firstinequality sign shape are sequentially and alternately disposed in thespace G.

FIG. 12 is a view for describing structures of first patterns includingrepetitive patterning of micro-patterns for improving visibility of thetouch panel according to the present invention.

The second pattern illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B generally has therhombus shape, which is formed by connecting quadrangles of which widthsbecome gradually wide to each other and connecting quadrangles of whichwidths become gradually narrow to each other.

A second pattern 240-5 of FIG. 12 is formed by disposing quadrangles ofwhich widths become wide, such as a first region 1220, a second region1230, a third region 1240, and the like, so as to be connected to eachother.

Increase regions in which widths of quadrangles become wide will bedisposed up to a point at which two vertices of a rhombus shape facingeach other have a maximum width therebetween, and a plurality ofdecrease regions in which widths of quadrangles become narrow will berepetitively disposed from the point at which the two vertices of therhombus shape facing each other have the maximum width therebetween.

In a second pattern 240-2 of FIG. 12, it is illustrated that widths ofquadrangles become gradually narrow from a first region 1250 toward athird region 1270 through a second region 1260.

Since the patterns according to the present invention have a shape inwhich a pair of first patterns are engaged with each other in a state inwhich phases thereof are inversed by 180 degrees, they have a shape inwhich a width of another pattern becomes narrow at a point at which awidth of one pattern becomes wide, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

The increase regions in which the widths become wide will include moremicro-patterns having an inequality sign shape, and at the same time,the number of lines connecting central points of the micro-patterns toeach other will also be increased.

The first region 1220 including one vertex of the second pattern 240-5includes three first lines in which two micro-patterns having a firstinequality sign shape are patterned and three second lines in which twomicro-patterns having a second inequality sign shape are patterned.

As described above, the first lines in which the micro-patterns havingthe first inequality sign shape are patterned and the second lines inwhich the micro-patterns having the second inequality sign shape arepatterned are not lines that are actually present, but are virtual linesthat connect central points of the inequality sign shapes to each other.

The second region 1230 of the second pattern 240-5 includes nine firstlines in which three micro-patterns having a first inequality sign shapeare patterned and nine second lines in which three micro-patterns havinga second inequality sign shape are patterned.

The third region 1240 of the second pattern 240-5 includes nine firstlines in which four micro-patterns having a first inequality sign shapeare patterned and nine second lines in which four micro-patterns havinga second inequality sign shape are patterned.

The present invention includes a plurality of connection micro-patterns1010-A, 1010-B, 1010-C, 1010-D, 1010-E, 1010-F, 1010-G, 1010-H, 1010-I,1010-J, 1010-K, 1010-L, and the like, (see FIG. 10) connecting edges ofthe increase regions and edges of the decrease regions having differentwidths to each other.

The rhombus shape of the second pattern in the present invention isformed by connecting a plurality of micro-patterns positioned on therespective sides of the rhombus shape and the connection micro-patternshaving different widths to each other, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and12.

In detail, two sides that are in parallel with each other among severalquadrangles having different widths are continuously connected to eachother so that widths thereof become gradually wide or narrow (that is,micro-patterns formed by removing the transparent conductive materialsare connected to each other) to obtain the rhombus shape of the secondpattern.

In FIG. 12, compensation patterns 1210 denoted by a blue color arefurther included.

The compensation patterns 1210 serve to fill the excessively removedconductive materials.

In the case in which voids are formed by excessively removing theconductive materials in a first vertex region of the second pattern240-5, the compensation patterns filling the conductive materials havingthe inequality sign shape are formed in the corresponding region.

The compensation patterns 1210 illustrated in FIG. 12 are not present inonly a vertex portion of the second pattern, but may be appropriatelyadditionally disposed when a void area is larger as compared with otherportions.

It may be confirmed in FIG. 12 that additional compensation patterns areformed in a first vertex portion of the second pattern 240-4 and thesensor signal line region.

FIG. 13 is a view for describing structures of sensor signal linesincluding repetitive patterning of micro-patterns for improvingvisibility of the touch panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of repetitive patterning of micro-patternsfor improving invisibility in sensor signal lines, that is, an enlargedview of the region 1020 of FIG. 12.

In the present invention, the sensor signal lines as well as the firstpatterns and the second patterns forming the touch electrode are alsorepetitively patterned with the micro-patterns having the inequalitysign shape, thereby improving the visibility of the touch panel.

Separation lines 1310-A, 1310-B, 1310-C, 1330-A, and 1330-B illustratedin FIG. 13 continuously connect patterns having an inequality sign shapeto each other without a gap to separate neighboring sensor signal linesfrom each other.

A first sensor signal line including one micro-pattern having a firstinequality sign shape, disposed at the leftmost portion in FIG. 13 isseparated from sensor signal lines neighboring to the first sensorsignal line by the separation lines 1310A and 1310-B.

A second sensor signal line having the same width, that is, includingone micro-pattern having a first inequality sign shape is separated fromthe first sensor signal line and a third sensor signal line neighboringto the second sensor signal line by the separation lines 1310B and1310-C.

The third sensor signal line including two micro-patterns having a firstinequality sign shape and one micro-pattern having a second inequalitysign shape is separated from the second sensor signal line and a fourthsensor signal line neighboring to the third sensor signal line by theseparation lines 1310C and 1330-A.

The fourth sensor signal line including two micro-patterns having afirst inequality sign shape and one micro-pattern having a secondinequality sign shape is separated from the third sensor signal line anda fifth sensor signal line neighboring to the fourth sensor signal lineby the separation lines 1330-A and 1330-B.

As seen from FIG. 13, the meaning that widths of the sensor signal linesbecome wide is that the number of micro-patterns included in theneighboring separation lines is increased.

As described above, the widths of the sensor signal lines become widerwhen the first patterns to which the sensor signal lines are connectedbecome farther from the touch IC.

In a touch panel having touch patterns and sensor signal lines formed ofa plurality of micro-patterns according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, it is possible to maximize invisibility whileminimizing a change in structures of the touch patterns depending on apurpose of the touch panel. Therefore, finally, it is possible topromote improvement of visibility of the touch panel.

In the touch panel having touch patterns and sensor signal lines formedof a plurality of micro-patterns according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, micro-patterns for invisibility of patterns arenot changed even though sizes of touch patterns are changed.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains that the present invention is not limited to theabove-mentioned exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, butmay be variously substituted, modified, and altered without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch panel having improved visibility,comprising: a plurality of first patterns formed of a transparentconductive material so as to generate a touch capacitance by approach ora touch of a touch unit and formed by connecting one or more secondpatterns having a rhombus shape to each other, surfaces of the secondpatterns including a plurality of micro-patterns that are repetitivelypatterned; and a plurality of sensor signal lines repetitively patternedwith the micro-patterns and transferring touch signals generated fromthe first patterns to a touch integrated chip (IC), wherein each of themicro-patterns has a predetermined shape, and the transparent conductivematerial on an inner surface of the shape is removed, and whereinneighboring sensor signal lines are separated from each other byseparation lines from which the transparent conductive material isremoved by connecting the micro-patterns formed in the same column toeach other.
 2. The touch panel having improved visibility of claim 1,wherein a maximum width of the second pattern is smaller than a unit pi(Φ), wherein the unit pi is set up to 1 mm or less.
 3. The touch panelhaving improved visibility of claim 1, wherein the micro-patterns havefirst inequality sign shapes or second inequality sign shapes of whichtwo segments having a predetermined width contact each other at centralpoints at a predetermined angle.
 4. The touch panel having improvedvisibility of claim 3, wherein the first inequality sign shape and thesecond inequality sign shape are inequality sign shapes having a phasedifference of 180 degrees therebetween, such that they are widened inopposite directions.
 5. The touch panel having improved visibility ofclaim 3, wherein the micro-patterns on the surfaces of the secondpatterns are formed by repetitively patterning the first inequality signshapes at predetermined spacings in a first line and repetitivelypatterning the second inequality sign shapes at predetermined spacingsin a second line, and the first line in which the first inequality signshapes are patterned and the second line in which the second inequalitysign shapes are patterned are repetitively disposed on the surfaces ofthe second patterns.
 6. The touch panel having improved visibility ofclaim 5, wherein the first line is a virtual line connecting the centralpoints of the first inequality sign shapes to each other, and the secondline is a virtual line connecting the central points of the secondinequality sign shapes to each other.
 7. The touch panel having improvedvisibility of claim 5, wherein the micro-patterns are repetitivelypatterned so that one of the segments constituting the first inequalitysign shapes and one of the segments constituting the second inequalitysign shapes are alternately disposed in a space of the first line andthe second line.
 8. The touch panel having improved visibility of claim5, wherein the second patterns are formed in the rhombus shape byincluding a plurality of increase regions of which widths becomestepwise wide from a first vertex up to a point at which a width betweensecond and third vertices facing each other are the maximum and aplurality of decrease regions of which widths become stepwise narrowfrom the point at which the width between the second and third verticesfacing each other are the maximum up to a fourth vertex facing the firstvertex.
 9. The touch panel having improved visibility of claim 8,wherein a first region of the increase regions including the firstvertex includes a plurality of first lines and a plurality of secondlines, and a plurality of first inequality sign shapes and a pluralityof second inequality sign shapes are patterned in the first lines andthe second lines, respectively.
 10. The touch panel having improvedvisibility of claim 9, wherein numbers of a plurality of first lines anda plurality of second lines included in a second region of the increaseregions having widths wider than that of the first region are more thannumbers of the plurality of first lines and the plurality of secondlines included in the first region, and numbers of first inequality signshapes and second inequality sign shapes patterned in the plurality offirst lines and the plurality of second lines of the second region aremore than numbers of the first inequality sign shapes and the secondinequality sign shapes patterned in the plurality of first lines and theplurality of second lines of the first region.
 11. The touch panelhaving improved visibility of claim 10, further comprising a pluralityof connection micro-patterns connecting edges of the increase regionsand edges of the decrease regions having different widths to each other,wherein the micro-patterns positioned on the respective sides of therhombus shape and the connection micro-patterns are connected to eachother to form edges of the second patterns.
 12. The touch panel havingimproved visibility of claim 1, wherein shapes in which a pair of firstpatterns are engaged with each other at upper and lower portions in astate in which phases of the pair of first patterns are inversed by 180degrees are repetitively disposed to form one column of the touch panel.13. The touch panel having improved visibility of claim 1, wherein sizesof the second patterns become larger as the second patterns becomefarther from the touch IC.
 14. The touch panel having improvedvisibility of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of compensationpatterns compensating for the transparent conductive material removedfrom vertex portions of the first patterns at which a pair of the firstpatterns are engaged with each other.
 15. The touch panel havingimproved visibility of claim 1, wherein widths of the sensor signallines increase when the first patterns to which the sensor signal linesare connected become farther from the touch IC.
 16. The touch panelhaving improved visibility of claim 15, wherein increasing the widths ofthe sensor signal lines indicates that a number of micro-patternsincluded in neighboring separation lines is increased.
 17. The touchpanel having improved visibility of claim 1, wherein the sensor signallines are connected to the first patterns at points at which distancesbetween the sensor signal lines and the touch IC are the shortestdistances.
 18. The touch panel having improved visibility of claim 15,wherein widths of the sensor signal lines and sizes of the firstpatterns are set so that all of resistance values of the respectivesensor signal lines are the same as each other.